During the filming of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE's new series, Amazon
Abyss, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Natural History Unit and Brazilian fish scientists
have discovered four brand new fish species deep in the river system of
The Amazon.
In a unique blend of science and audience interaction, people will be
given the opportunity to vote online at bbc.co.uk/nature to choose the
name of one of the species.
For the first time, an international team of scientists
and divers, led by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, has succeeded in diving into the murky abyss
and exploring the depths of the Amazon River system.
Diving to new depths of 150 feet and using a remote operated
vehicle to descend 300 feet into the darkness, the team has recorded the
first ever images of life at the very bottom of the Amazon.
The unnamed new species of fish is a smaller relative
of the candiru, which is well known in the Amazon as a danger to people
who go into the water.
The candiru feeds parasitically by burrowing into body
orifices, jamming itself in place using barbs along its sides then drinking
the blood of its victim.
If it detects urine in the water while looking for a host, it can swim
up the urethra, the tube inside the penis, and it's almost impossible
to remove without surgery.
The new fish species is about 25mm long and is said to feed off larger
fish by swimming into their gill slits and sucking their blood.
It is not yet known if this new species poses a risk to humans like its
larger relative the candiru.
Five names to choose from
Scientist Mario de Pinna from the University of SΓ£o Paulo,
a world authority on Amazonian fish, joined the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's expedition to the
Amazon and has come up with five suggestions for its Latin name.
The public can log onto bbc.co.uk/nature to vote for their
favourite name from the following options:
Paracanthopoma draculae
A name that pays homage to Bram Stoker's fictional vampire,
Dracula
Paracanthopoma irritans
Irritans is part of the scientific name for the human
flea. Fish probably find this little parasite equally annoying
Paracanthopoma minuta
A name that reflects the fact that the new fish is a small
member of the family
Paracanthopoma nosferatu
One of the earliest film adaptations of the Dracula story
is Friederich Murnau's silent 1922 version, Nosferatu
Paracanthopoma vampyra
The fish could just be simply referred to as a vampire
fish
The scientific expedition launched by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, in conjunction
with the University of SΓ£o Paulo, is the largest ever diving expedition
to the Amazon and the first to film the creatures that inhabit the unknown
depths.
The four species discovered by the team also include a
new species of 'land living' fish, and a catfish that is the only fish
in the world to eat wood.
Follow the expedition on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE's Amazon Abyss
From Monday 4 April viewers will be able to follow the scientific expedition
on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE's Amazon Abyss.
In the series the team, led by presenters Mike
deGruy and Kate Humble, embark on a mission
to explore the depths of the Amazon River in the middle of the South American
jungle.
The Amazon is a mighty river, in places wider and deeper
than the English Channel.
Its deepest reaches are a series of great scars in the
river bed exceeding 300 feet in depth. They have only just begun to be
probed by scientists.
Using the latest high definition cameras, underwater cameraman Mike deGruy
descended a 150 feet deep channel on the Rio Tapajos - the deepest anyone
has ever been in the Amazon.
Name the fish
Viewers will be able to log on and vote from Monday 4
April to Friday 29 April.
The result of the vote will be posted online at bbc.co.uk/nature
Notes to Editors
Amazon Abyss will be broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE starting on
Monday 4 April at 7.00pm for five consecutive nights.
The series producer is Andy Byatt and the executive producer is Tim Martin.
The four new species of fish have been added to the collection at the
University of SΓ£o Paulo, Brazil.
The naming conventions for plants, animals and bacteria
have been established gradually since the 16th century.
Linne did formalise the technique and his 1758 publication
Systema Naturae is accepted the world over as the basis for all modern
species names.
What you can call a newly discovered animal is now ultimately
decided by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.
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